Study: Going Greek may lead to the 'good life'

Mallory Robinson (left) Jen Howe (right) on the day they were accepted into Chi Omega Sorority.

Going Greek may be the new key to success after graduation, according to Gallup’s recent study of 30,000 graduates.

Gallup recently teamed up with Purdue University to study the effects of Greek involvement on the success rates of students post-graduation. The study analyzes success in categorical and measurable ways, such as the self-reported social, financial and community well-being of graduates.

When asked about whether or not they felt prepared for life after college, fraternity and sorority members reported that they felt prepared at a 10% higher rate than their non-Greek peers

This preparedness, for some, comes from years of fraternity business meetings or holding officer positions that mimic real-world management roles. Mike Sweeney, a recent graduate of St. Louis University with a degree in finance, credits his position in Sigma Phi Epsilon for his feeling of preparedness for postgraduate success.

“I was the (vice president) of finance as a junior, and not only was I able to completely control the financial budget for an entire year, I was part of a team of seven (officers) leading a fraternity of 120 guys,” Sweeney says.

Students from Greek organizations are aware of the benefits Greek involvement can yield in the real world, and the Gallup study gives numerical data to back up the anecdotal evidence from students and graduates.

Eric Formato, an Alpha Phi Delta alumnus and recent graduate of Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, says his position as philanthropy chair of his fraternity gave him event-planning experience. Working with his fellow members, Formato organized an event for more than 400 attendees that raised more than 9,000 dollars for Lou Gherig’s disease research.

“Fraternity life taught me a ton about teamwork,” Formato says of the experience. “This applies directly to the workplace –– an organization or company works optimally when all parties are providing the same high quality effort.”

In addition to feeling prepared for the real world, fraternity and sorority graduates report being engaged in their workplace in greater numbers than other graduates, at a rate of 43% compared to only 38%.

“Gallup defines workplace engagement as being able to do what you are best at, liking what you do and having someone who cares about your development at work,” says Pete Smithhisler, president and CEO of the North-American Interfraternity Conference. “Fraternities and sororities have always emphasized the value of mentoring and intergenerational relationships.”

Gallup’s findings also suggest that fraternity and sorority members excel in multiple subsets of well-being, including a sense of community. According to the data, 52% of Greek-affiliated graduates consider themselves to be thriving in community well-being, as compared with less than half, or 46%, of other graduates.

The Gallup study defines community well-being as “the sense of engagement you have with the areas where you live, liking where you live, feeling safe and having pride in your community.”

“(Sororities) offer authentic communities that provide a network of support throughout your lifetime,” says Jean Mrasek, chairman of the National Panhellenic Conference. “The bond of sisterhood is powerful and sustains over time, transcending ages and distance.”

It is this lifetime support within an organization that can even sometimes help fraternity and sorority graduates land their first jobs.

“My interviewer was in the same sorority I was,” says Chi Omega alumna Mallory Robinson, who graduated from University of Illinois in Champaign. in 2012. “We bonded over it and she hired me that same afternoon.”

Gallup also found that fraternity life may foster a greater entrepreneurial spirit in students –– of those studied, more Greek-affiliated graduates have started their own businesses than their non-Greek counterparts, at a rate of 28% vs. 23%.

Stephanie Herrera, an Alpha Sigma Alpha alumna and recent graduate of Loras College in Iowa, attributes this to the initiative she learned during her Greek years.

“We have experience in leading with various positions so we can take charge for ourselves and aren’t afraid of making connections,” Herrera says.

But not all students are sold on Gallup’s findings. Melanie Papandrea, a senior at Roosevelt University in Chicago, bypassed sorority membership and instead served as captain of her dance team as well as layout editor for her university newspaper.

“I have friends in sororities, so I’ve seen the kind of skills they’ve developed through Greek life,” Papandrea says. “But I’ve learned very similar management skills through the Lakerettes (dance team) and the paper. In doing layout work I gained experience that would directly apply to future jobs.”

Natalie Kish, an incoming graduate student at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, believes that career readiness in students is not something exclusive to Greek life. She credits her own real world skills to her time on her university rowing team.

“I think Greek life and rowing prepare for the professional world in the same way in that they both teach discipline and commitment, but otherwise I think the lessons are different,” Kish says. “Greek life seems to present more opportunities for networking and interactive skills, whereas rowing builds more task-based skills.”

Kish says that the real way to gain valuable experience is to be a leader in a given organization.

“Regardless of what organization with which someone is involved, the best way to get experience that will prepare him or her for the future is by holding a leadership role,” says Kish.

The Gallup study also measured the alumni attachment, emotional support and, experiential learning of students, as well as their well-being in terms of their purpose, social interactions, financial circumstances and physical health. In all categories, fraternity and sorority graduates showed a higher level of satisfaction and success than their non-Greek counterparts.